Walters Ms. W.687, Single leaf of a monkey riding a goat and three sheep

W.687

Single leaf of a monkey riding a goat and three sheep

This album page consists of two drawings and a sample of calligraphy written in nastaʿlīq script by Ḥasan Shāmlū on the back. The drawing in the upper register is of a monkey riding a goat. According to the Persian inscription it was executed by the celebrated Persian Safavid artist Riz̤ā–ʾi ʿAbbāsī (d. 1044 AH / 1634 CE) for his son Muḥammad Qāsim. The inscription reads, "Made for my son Muḥammad Qāsim. Work of the humble Riz̤ā–ʾi ʿAbbāsī." The drawing in the lower register depicts three sheep. On the back is a sample of calligraphy bearing the name Ḥasan Shāmlū in the lower panel in the left corner of the page.

Early 11th century AH / 17th CE

Iran

As-written name: Riz̤ā–ʾi ʿAbbāsī

Name, in vernacular: رضاء عباسى

As-written name: Ḥasan Shāmlū

Name, in vernacular: حسن شاملو

Leaf

Historical

The primary language in this manuscript is Persian.

Paper

Mounted on pasteboard

Foliation: 1

24.0 cm wide by 36.5 cm high

1. Images: 6.5 cm wide by 9.9 cm high; 9.0 cm wide by 9.5 cm high

1. Title: Monkey riding a goat and three sheep
2. Scribe: Ḥasan Shāmlū
3. Artist: Riz̤ā–ʾi ʿAbbāsī
4. Hand note: Written in nastaʿlīq script in black ink
5. Decoration note: Two drawings; specimen of calligraphy; illuminated borders

fol. W.687a:

1. 
2. Title: Monkey riding a goat and three sheep
3. Form: Drawing
4. Label: This album page consists of two drawings. The drawing in the upper register is of a monkey riding a goat. According to the Persian inscription it was executed by the celebrated Iranian artist Riz̤ā–ʾi ʿAbbāsī (d. 1044 AH / 1634 CE) for his son Muḥammad Qāsim. The inscription reads, "Made for my son Muḥammad Qāsim. Work of the humble Riz̤ā–ʾi ʿAbbāsī." The drawing in the lower register depicts three sheep.

fol. W.687b:

1. 
2. Title: Specimen of calligraphy written in nastaʿlīq script
3. Form: Calligraphy page
4. Label: This specimen of calligraphy is signed (mashaqahu) by Ḥasan Shāmlū in the lower left corner of the composition. The salmon-colored border is illuminated with floral, fauna, and animal motifs.

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequest

Canby, Sheila R. The Rebellious Reformer: The drawings and Paintings of Riza-yi Abbasi of Isfahan. (London: Azimuth, 1996), 199.

Noel, William, and Daniel Weiss, eds. The Book of Kings: Art, War, and the Morgan Picture Bible. (Baltimore: Walters Art Museum, 2002), 204; nos. 49-50.

Grube, Ernst J., and Maria Alberta Fabris. Muslim Miniature Paintings from the XIII to XIX Century from Collections in the United States and Canada: Catalogue of the Exhibition. (Venezia: N. Pozza, 1962), 126-7.

Principal cataloger: Gacek, Adam

Catalogers: Landau, Amy; Smith, Sita

Editor: Bockrath, Diane

Conservators: Jewell, Stephanie; Quandt, Abigail

Contributors: Barrera, Christina; Emery, Doug; Herbert, Lynley; Noel, William; Simpson, Shreve; Tabritha, Ariel; Toth, Michael B.; Valle, Chiara

The Walters Art Museum

Licensed for use under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Access Rights, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode. It is requested that copies of any published articles based on the information in this data set be sent to the curator of manuscripts, The Walters Art Museum, 600 North Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21201.